Christian detects By-ends.

Then Christian stepped a little aside to his fellow Hopeful, saying, it runs in my mind that this is one By-ends, of Fair-speech; and if it be he, we have as very a knave in our company as dwelleth in all these parts. Then said Hopeful, Ask him, methinks he should be not ashamed of his name. So Christian came up with him, and said, Sir, you talk as if you knew something more than all the world doth; and if I take not my mark amiss, I deem I have half a guess of you; is not your name Mr. By-ends, of Fair-speech?

By-ends. That is not my name, but a nick-name that is given me by some that cannot abide me, and I must be content to bear it as a reproach, as other good men have borne theirs before me.

Chr. But did you never give any occasion to men to call you by this name?

By-ends. Never! Never! the worst that ever I did to give them an occasion to give me this name was, that I had always the luck to jump in my judgment with the present way of the times, whatever it was, and by chance was to get thereby; but if things are thus cast upon me, let me count them a blessing: but let not the malicious load me therefore with reproach.

Chr. I thought, indeed, that you were the man that I heard of: and to tell you what I think, I fear this name belongs to you more properly than you are willing we should think it doth.

By-ends. Well, if you do so imagine I cannot help it: you will find me a fair company-keeper, if you will admit me your associate.

Chr. If you will go with us, you must go against wind and tide; the which, I perceive, is against your opinion: you must also own religion in his rags, as well as when in his silver slippers; and stand by him too when bound in irons, as well as when he walketh the streets with applause.

By-ends is resolved to follow his own principles.

By-ends. You must not oppose nor lord it over my faith; leave me to my liberty, and let me go with

you.

Chr. Not a step farther, unless you will do in what I propound as we.

Then said By-ends, I shall never desert my old principles, since they are harmless and profitable. If I may not go with you, I must do as I did before you overtook me, even go by myself, until some overtake me, that will be glad of my company. (h)

Then I saw in my dream, that Christian and Hopeful forsook him, and kept their distance before him; but one of them looking back saw three men following Mr. By-ends; and behold as they came up with him, he made them a very low congee; and they also gave him a compliment. The men's names were Mr. Hold-the-world, Mr. Money-love, and Mr. Save-all; men that Mr. By-ends had formerly been acquainted with: for in their minority they were school-fellows, and taught by one Mr. Gripeman, a school-master in Lovegain, which is a market town in the county of Coveting, in the north. This school-master taught them the art of getting, either by violence, cozenage, flattery, lying, or by putting on a guise of religion: and these four gentlemen had attained much of the art of their master, so that they could each of them have kept such a school themselves.

Well, when they had, as I said, thus saluted each other, Mr. Money-love said to Mr. By-ends,

(h) Mind how warily these pilgrims acted to this deceitful professor. They did not too rashly take up an ill opinion against him: but when they had full proof of what he was, they did not hesitate one moment, but dealt faithfully with him, and conscientiously withdrew from him. Love should always move slowly in receiving a report, but ever deal faithfully when it is plain that men are not what they profess to be.

By-ends and his party censure Christian.

Who are they upon the road before us? (for Christian and Hopeful were yet within view.)

By-ends. They are a couple of far countrymen, that after their mode are going on pilgrimage.

Money-love. Alas! why did not they stay, that we might have had their good company? for they, and we and you, sir, I hope, are going on pilgrimage.

By-ends. We are so indeed; but the men before us are so rigid, and love so much their own notions, and do also so lightly esteem the opinion of others, that let a man be ever so godly, yet if he jumps not with them in all things, they thrust him quite out of their company.

Mr. Save-all. That's bad; but we read of some that are righteous overmuch, and such men's rigidness prevails with them to judge and condemn all but themselves: but I pray, what and how many were the things wherein you differ?

By-ends. Why they, after their headstrong manner, conclude that it is their duty to rush on their journey all weathers, and I am for waiting for wind and tide. They for hazarding all for God in a clap, and I am for taking all advantage to secure my life and estate. They are for holding their notions, though all other men be against them; but I am for religion in what, and so far as the times and my safety will bear it. They are for religion when in rags and contempt; but I am for him when he walks in his golden slippers, in the sun-shine, and with applause. (i)

Mr. Hold-the-world, Ah, and I hold you there

(i) Notwithstanding By-ends could be reserved and upon his guard with faithful pilgrims, yet he can speak out boldly to those of his own spirit and character. O the treacherous deceivings of the desperate wickedness of the human heart. Who can know it? No one, but the heart-searching God.

S

By-ends proposes a question.

still good, Mr. By-ends; for, for my part, I can count him but a fool, that having the liberty to keep what he has, shall be so unwise as to lose it. Let us be wise as serpents; it is best to make hay while the sun shines: you see how the bee lieth still all the winter, and bestirs her only when she can have profit with pleasure. God sends sometimes rain, and sometimes sun-shine: if they be such fools to go through the first, yet let us be content to take fair weather along with us. For my part I like that religion best, that will stand with the security of God's good blessing unto us: for who can imagine, that is ruled by this reason, since God has bestowed upon us the good things of this life, but that he would have us keep them for his sake? Abraham and Solomon grew rich in religion. And Job says, that a good man shall lay up gold as dust. But he must not be such as the men before us, if they be as you have described them.

Mr. Save-all. I think that we are all agreed in this matter, and therefore there needs no more words about it.

Mr. Money-love. No, there needs no more words about this matter indeed; for he that believes neither scripture nor reason (and you see we have both on our side,) neither knows his own liberty, nor seeks his own safety.

Mr. By-ends. My brethren, we are, as you see, going all on pilgrimage, and for our better diversion from things that are bad, give me leave to propound unto you this question.

Suppose a man, a minister or a tradesman, &c. should have an advantage lie before him, to get the good blessings of this life; yet so that he can by no means come by them, except in appearance, at least, he becomes extraordinary zealous in some points of religion that he meddled not with before:

Money-love's answer.

may he not use this means to attain his end, and yet be a right honest man?

Mr. Money-love. I see the bottom of your question; and with these gentlemen's good leave, I will endeavour to shape you an answer: And first to speak to your question, as it concerns a minister himself. Suppose a minister, a worthy man, possessed but of a very small benefice, and has in his eye a greater, more fat and plump by far; he has also an opportunity of getting it, yet so as by being more studious, by preaching more frequently and zealously, and because the temper of the people requires it, by altering some of his principles; for my part, I see no reason but a man may do this (provided he has a call ;) ay, and a great deal more besides, and yet be an honest man. For why?

1. His desire of a greater benefice is lawful, (this cannot be contradicted) since it is set before him by Providence; so then he may get it if he can, making no question for conscience-sake.

2. Besides, his desire after that benefice, makes him more studious, a more zealous preacher &c. and so makes him a better man, yea, makes him better. improve his parts, which is according to the mind of God.

3. Now, as for his complying with the temper of his people, by deserting, to serve them, some of his principles, this argueth, 1. That he is of a self-denying temper. 2. Of a sweet and winning deportment. 3. And so more fit for the ministerial function.

4. I conclude then, that a minister that changes a small for a great, should not, for so doing, be judged as covetous; but rather, since he is improved in his parts and industry hereby, be counted as one that pursues his call, and the opportunity put in his hand to do good.